The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department is a proactive law enforcement agency that is very involved in the community. Due to the volume of county wide events ranging from local parades, festivals, fireworks, sporting events, and other community programs the Sheriff’s Department relies on a trained volunteer staff to assist with these operations. Qualified individuals may volunteer their time and service with the Reserve, Mounted, or Explorer Divisions.

Reserve Deputies are trained and sworn personnel who volunteer their time to assist the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department better perform its primary functions of enforcing the laws, and providing a safe community. Reserve Deputies receive similar training that the full-time Deputies receive. Reserve Deputies often work special events throughout the county.

The Mounted Division is made up of trained and sworn personnel who not only donate their time to the vision of the Sheriff’s Department, but also provide and maintain a horse at their own expense. The Mounted Division has similar duties of a Reserve Deputy and assist with various events throughout the year. They can always be found at the Berrien County Youth Fair.

TheChaplains Unit was created almost a decade ago. This unit is comprised of volunteer Chaplains who not only assist the residents of Berrien County, but are also available for the officers as well. Our Chaplains are always on call and are dispatched to tragic events throughtout Berrien County.

The Victim Services Advocate Unit is in place to help families cope with the loss of a loved one, assist a victim of a crime, or provide solutions to those in time of need. Victim Services Teams are trained by the Michigan Sheriffs' Association and directed by your sheriff's office in order to provide short-term crisis intervention to victims and their families.

The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department hosts the law enforcement Explorer Post 602. Post 602 is sponsored by the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #96 and is comprised of boys and girls between 14-20 years of age who are interested in law enforcement. Over 1,000 volunteer hours were donated to the community in 2010.